Telephone: +44 (0) 1722 322 652 Email: [email protected] England: Devon A tale of two rivers https://www.onfootholidays.co.uk/routes/england-devon/ Route Summary At a glance 7 nights (6 walking days) - the full route. We recommend extra nights in any accommodation (upgrading for extra comfort) How much walking? Full days: 11-19 km per day, 3-6 hrs walking Using shortening options: 10-14 km per day, 3-4 hrs Max. Grade: page 1/9 Devon and Cornwall occupy the south-west peninsula of England, an area defined by England’s remarkable maritime heritage. Devon, perhaps the lesser known of the two counties, nevertheless contains three great and ancient ports of which two, Exeter and Dartmouth, form the beginning and end of this route. The journey between the two centres takes you through some of the most beautiful and varied country in the British Isles. After a night in medieval Exeter and a short taxi ride (walkers can opt to stay in the village of Dunsford instead), the route takes you up the wooded Teign Gorge to stylish Chagford, stopping en-route to visit imposing Castle Drogo. Then on to legendary Dartmoor: windswept downs of a lonely and unsurpassable beauty and the background to much literature, both romantic and mystical. Overnight in pretty Widecombe-in-the-Moor, then a breathtaking walk along the fringes of the moor to the upper reaches of the River Dart, where your journey back to the sea begins. Buckfast Abbey, Dartington Hall and the fine town of Totnes itself line themselves along this majestic waterway, winding down to the sea at the historic town of Dartmouth, from where many a buccaneer sailed and, more notably, the base from which the Pilgrim Fathers sailed in the Mayflower to colonise the New World. Staying in country inns and carefully chosen B&Bs, and with a variety of ways to shorten and ease the walking (including a steam train and a river steamer!), the walker will experience the best that England can offer, though should be ready to navigate intelligently as the paths are not always well signed. Route Highlights ● Exeter cathedral with its incredible vaulted ceiling ● The wooded Teign Gorge and Lutyens’ Castle Drogo ● Stylish Chagford ● Dartmoor, wild hills and long views ● Widecombe-in-the-Moor ● Buckfast Abbey and Dartington Hall ● Totnes High Street ● Sharpham vineyard – wine and cheese tasting ● The Dart estuary ● Agatha Christie’s Greenway ● Dartmouth We Recommend Upgrades in various stops - stay at Dartington Hall, watching an arthouse film in the evening and dining in the vaulted hall. page 2/9 Grading Full days: 11-19 km per day, 3-6 hrs walking Using shortening options: 10-14 km per day, 3-4 hrs Reasonable signposting on most days, though navigational alertness needed, with careful attention to the route directions particularly Chagford-Widecombe across the moor. Highest point of route 530m. Underfoot conditions mainly good. Medium: Average cumulative uphill stretches (CUSs) 441m (300m-600m) per day. Easy-Medium: CUSs 279m (100m-400m) using shortening options Important note: Times given for each day are walking times for an “average” walker and exclude stops. “CUSs” stands for “Cumulative Uphill Stretches” and measures the aggregated ascents in each day, expressed in metres of climb. See “Walk Grading” for more information. When to go The best months to walk May, June, July, August, September, October Other possible months April, November The best time to go is any time between May and October, though the summer months can have accommodation availability problems so you may not get the accommodation you are hoping for. In early and late season the length of daylight can make the use of shortening options sensible. Please note: date ranges shown are for a 'normal' year. While Covid-19 restrictions remain, please contact us to discuss your plans and availability. Itinerary Day 1 - Arrive in Exeter (or Dunsford) Arrive in Exeter, check in to your accommodation and take a look at the cathedral and other ancient delights (a second night here would be rewarding). Alternatively travel on that day by prearranged taxi to charming Dunsford, and stay in the village to get into the rural swing without delay. page 3/9 Day 2 - Dunsford to Chagford Whether staying in Dunsford or starting with a short bus ride from Exeter, this long but easy walk follows the River Teign upstream through the remarkable Teign Gorge. Look out for black and white Dippers (river birds who can ‘fly’ through the water) sitting in the river along the way. You have the opportunity to visit an Iron Age fort before lunching at the atmospheric Fingle Bridge Inn, and then on to Castle Drogo, home of the Drewe family. Built by Edwin Lutyens in 1930, it is reportedly the last castle to be built in England. Your goal, Chagford, is a fine moorland town with some excellent shops and inns. (Medium: 4¾hrs, 19km, CUSs 350m) OR (Exeter starts only) Taxi to Drewsteignton followed by easy walk via Castle Drogo (Easy: 2½hrs, 8km, CUSs 195m). Day 3 - Chagford to Widecombe Today’s walk follows the Two Moors Way for the whole of the day. Heading out of town along leafy lanes, your path leads south and up onto the high moor. After visiting Grimspound, a Bronze Age circular stone settlement, you continue up above the stone circle and along a ridge. On a fine day, the views from here are almost 360° of stunning countryside, with several tors in sight in the near and far distance. On reaching the far end of the ridge, you head down quickly to reach the village of Widecombe, your resting place for the night. (Medium-hard: 5½hrs, 19km, CUSs 730m). Alternative: If you prefer a shorter walk or the weather is inclement, each half of the day has a shorter version. The first half would be mainly on quiet asphalt road and the second would miss out the moorland section ( Medium: 4hrs, 14km, CUSs 530m) Day 4 - Widecombe to Scorriton An easy start from Widecombe takes you up to spectacular high moorland and into the wooded West Webbern river valley at Jordan, to follow the ‘Two Moors Way’. Passing through tiny hamlets and woods (carpeted with bluebells in May), you will find yourself in seemingly forgotten places, untouched by the 21st century. Continuing through the picturesque village of Ponsworthy, you climb once again up onto moorland at Bel Tor Corner, to walk Dr Blackall’s Drive, an eccentric way along a high ridge above the stunning Dart River valley. Coming down off the moor at "New Bridge", a pretty medieval bridge across the river Dart, and one of only a few crossing points on this section of the river, you head up through farmland to Scorriton for the night. (Easy-medium: 4hrs, 13km, CUSs 485m) Day 5 - Scorriton to Dartington Today’s walk takes you away from the moorland landscape of Dartmoor, and into the softer South Hams, with its voluptuous rolling hills and hidden valleys. The walk starts with a gentle introduction through ancient woodlands and then on to beautiful Buckfast Abbey. After this you enter the bucolic South Devon countryside, walking the delightful ‘green lanes’ to Staverton, where you will meet the River Dart once again. Continue through Dartington Estate (world famous for its summer music schools, and its beautiful quad and Great Hall). It’s then an easy walk down to Dartington village, to a welcome pint in the lively Cott Inn. (Medium: 5½hrs, 21km, CUSs 650m). Alternative: If you would like a shorter day or simply have some different fun, you can take a steam train for the stretch from Buckfastleigh to Staverton and save 7km of walking (Easy-medium: 3½hrs, 14km, CUSs 405m) Day 6 - Dartington to Tuckenhay A short day spent walking in the South Hams of Devon, the area of South Devon between Dartmoor and the sea, visiting Totnes and a vineyard. This region is of gently undulating hills, verdant pastures and spectacular views of the river Dart. The moorland left far behind, you are following the River Dart to the tidal reach of the sea at Totnes and beyond towards the coast, to finish your day a few kilometres upriver from the sea. Highlights of the day include time to visit the beautiful town of Totnes with its famous High Street, and the vineyard at Sharpham, where you can taste the wines and cheeses produced there. (Easy-medium: 3hrs, 11km, CUSs 300m) page 4/9 Day 7 - Tuckenhay to Dartmouth A delightful end to your walk with quintessential English charm around every corner. The day starts with a steep but short climb out of Tuckenhay, leaving Bow Creek behind you. Passing through the delightful village of Cornworthy, you rejoin the river and have the option of walking right along the creek into Dittisham. After sampling Dittisham’s enviable collection of eateries, summon the boatman to ferry you across to Agatha Christie’s Greenway. It’s then an easy walk above the river into picturesque Kingswear, and another ferry sees you sail into beautiful Dartmouth, and journey’s end. (Medium: 4¾ hrs, 16km, CUSs 570m OR shorten by taking boat from Greenway to Dartmouth Easy: 3 hrs, 7km, CUSs 2905m ) Travel Information ARRIVING BY AIR The best “local” airport is either Exeter or Bristol. Intercontinental flights use London airports. Flight information can change rapidly and not all flights run daily. Please do check directly with the airlines’ websites or Skyscanner (see below) before finalising any booking with us. Do not book your flights until we have confirmed that we have provisionally reserved accommodation for you.